Archive for May, 2013

The Volkswagen GTI is one of the best-known budget performance cars sold in America. For more than 25 years, Volkswagen has been taking its entry-level, economy car-based two-door hatchback model and turning it into a GTI by adding a more powerful engine and brakes, a sport-tuned suspension, and special interior and exterior trim pieces. The result is a practical car that’s also fun to drive and desirable among backyard and professional tuners. The VW GTI aftermarket community and online following are among the strongest on the sport-compact scene.

Under the hood is a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder making 200 horsepower. The turbo inline-4 pairs with a six-speed manual transmission for purists or a dual-clutch automated manual transmission to ease the pain of congested commutes.

If you are in the market for a Volkswagen in Tucson, you will find that there are two main trim levels: base and Autobahn. The base GTI’s standard equipment comes standard 18-inch alloy wheels, a rear roof spoiler, fog lights, heated outside mirrors, heated washer nozzles, full power accessories, a leather-wrapped tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, cruise control, a trip computer, air-conditioning, heated front sport seats, plaid cloth upholstery, split-folding rear seats with a center pass-through, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, and an eight-speaker sound system with a CD player, satellite radio, auxiliary audio jack and iPod integration.

The base GTI can be fitted with the Convenience and Sunroof package, which adds different 18-inch wheels, a sunroof, multifunction steering wheel controls, a touchscreen interface for the stereo and an in-dash CD changer. The GTI with Sunroof and Navigation adds adaptive xenon headlights, LED running lights and a touchscreen navigation system. The range-topping GTI Autobahn includes the above features, plus unique 18-inch wheels, partial-leather seating, keyless ignition/entry and a premium sound system.

However, if these features aren’t enough, you may consider modifications. If that is the case, there are some things that you may want to think about. It is important to keep in mind that some modifications may void your warranty and if you ever decide to sell your modified GTI, your resale value may be lower than a stock car. Also, some dealers will not work on a heavily modified car because they are unfamiliar with the parts. Every time you change your car you take the chance that something will not be quite right or a minor problem may become more prominent. It is good practice to make sure the car is working right before you modify it. Furthermore, keep in mind that modifying your car my cause your insurance rate to increase partly because modified cars are more likely to be stolen.